Gagai leaps in to Australian Kangaroos camp

12th October 2017 6:00 AM

Australian Prime Minister's XII rugby league players James Maloney, Josh Jackson, Mackay's Dane Gagai and Jack Bird during a training session at the National Football Stadium in Boroko, Papua New Guinea.SUPPLIED

by Samuel.Obrien

Rugby League Local junior Dane Gagai has kicked off the final chapter of his breakout 2017 season, entering camp with the Australian Kangaroos yesterday.

And as the Souths Sharks junior entered camp, the president of his junior club had big predictions for the weeks and years ahead.

"Dane could be anything as a player, he could be one of the greats,” Souths President Rod Tandy declared.

Gagai was named as part of the Australian squad for the 2017 World Cup last week with the team now in camp ahead of the start of the tournament later this month.

His inclusion in the squad almost guarantees the Souths Sharks junior a national debut during the tournament, a fitting end to a season where he became the first winger to be the player of the series in State of Origin.

Australia will kick off the tournament against England in Melbourne on October 27 with the bright lights of AAMI Park a very different setting to where the star winger developed his skills.

When Gagai makes his debut during the tournament he will have the whole town of Mackay behind him, especially his former club mates at Souths.

Mr Tandy said the entire club was proud of the achievements of a player who plied his trade on fields around the region.

"We have been following Dane right through and we are all very proud to have a Souths junior come through and play for Australia,” Tandy said.

"It is a great inspiration that a kid from Mackay can go through the ranks and play for Australia.

"It will be a huge boost for the club and the Mackay Rugby League in general.”

Gagai's breakout year in 2017 saw him captain the Newcastle Knights where he scored two tries and made 10 line breaks.

More impressive were his Origin performances where he scored 2 tries and ran over 500m on his way to the Wally Lewis medal.